These were the words I spoke at a recent emergency Council meeting. I meant what I said and I believe there is a better and more professional way of dealing with tribal issues. May the Creator bless us all. With the swearing in of the chairman and three new council members elected into office by the Chippewa Cree People, I had imagined and hoped for new beginnings. I thought, “Let’s give this Chairman a chance to prove that he has good intentions and prove that he can lead the Chippewa Cree Tribe into the future in a positive manner.” Unfortunately, I was immediately proven wrong when the Chairman once again violated the Chippewa Cree Tribal Constitution by attempting to terminate the Chief Judge and an associate judge at the Chippewa Cree Tribal Courts. There is a Judicial Commission who has the authority to deal with that as the current Business Committee has so far respected the separation of powers that exists between the Chippewa Cree Tribal Government and its Judicial Branch. It was never my intention to hurt anyone as a politician due to personal vendettas or ill feelings towards another. This government will never work, nor will the Chippewa Cree People prosper if those are the intentions of any one of us Business Committee Members. This government will only work and the Chippewa Cree People will only begin to prosper if the Business Committee works together in a respectful and professional manner. Self-serving intentions do not benefit the Tribe as a whole. I had asked the Chippewa Cree People to put me in this position to hopefully make some sort of positive impact for the benefit of our Tribe. With this position, I now have an obligation and responsibility to protect the interests and future of the Chippewa Cree People, even if that means removing one of my colleagues for violating the Chippewa Cree Tribal Constitution, the Chippewa Cree Tribal Business Committee Code of Ethics and/or the Chippewa Cree Tribal Law and Order Code. The first removal was riddled with blame of covering up for others and retaliation due to the Chairman cooperating with investigators. This Business Committee has been nothing but cooperative with the investigations that have taken place on the Rocky Boy Reservation. I never would have signed that first letter if the intentions were to cover up and/or hide others or to retaliate for cooperating with investigations. The TRUTH of it is, the Chippewa Cree Tribal Constitution was violated and seven charges were issued. Due process was offered but rejected. Those same seven charges still exist and go unanswered, and within just under a week, more violations have occurred. It is with a heavy heart today that I add my signature to the Removal Letter as I had hoped for better for our people, but I cannot sit idly while our people and employees suffer from tyranny, harassment and threats. The Chairman’s methods of “Divide and Conquer” will only prove to be harmful to our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is time to put aside petty disputes and ill feelings and move forward in a good way for the Chippewa Cree People.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 07:15:39 +0000
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